Vodafone Comedy festival opens this evening

The opening night of the Vodafone Comedy festival in the Iveagh Gardens has a largely Irish flavour.

The surreal wit of Dylan Moran can be seen at the Big Red stage at 7.30. At the same time one can catch the (he writes his own blurb) 'very low energy musical whimsy' of David O'Doherty at the Comedy Hub.

In the Jokeshop, four of the stalwarts of RTE's hit show The Savage Eye, David McSavage, John Colleary, Pat McDonnell and Dermot McMorrow are performing. Also at 7.30, Ardal O'Hanlon will be on at the Cherry Top stage. His MC is Fred Cooke.

Later on the evening, at 9.30. Andrew Maxwell, Bernard O"Shea, Foil, Arms & Hog and Afro-bearing, French-American stand-up Reggie Watts can be seen. And, advertised at 9.29 for some reason, Jason Byrne is performing at the Big Red, supported by the Scottish toddler Daniel Sloss (he's really very youthful).

For more information, check out www.ticketmaster.ie